HC Deb 04 July 1966 vol 731 cc4-5
6. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have extended their family planning advice as a result of his recent circular urging them to do so.

Mr. K. Robinson

This information is not yet available, but I propose to call for reports in due course.

Mrs. Short

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that large numbers of women wish to choose the kind of contraceptive method which they wish to use? Will he instruct local authority clinics to make it possible for women to choose a particular method without reference to either their husbands or to the requirements of the Medical Defence Union?

Mr. Robinson

I do not think that it is for me to instruct the local authority clinics in the way they make their arrangements. I sent the circular out as recently as 17th February and I have it in mind to call for reports by about next September. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put down a Question after I have received those reports.

21. Dr. Winstanley

asked the Minister of Health if he will give guidance to general practitioners on the interpretation of their terms of service with regard to refusals to give family planning advice or to issue National Health Service prescriptions for the contraceptive pill when there is a medical need for family planning.

Mr. K. Robinson

I think it is better to leave it to general practitioners to decide what advice and treatment to give in the light of their obligation under their terms of service to provide all proper and necessary treatment for their patients.

Dr. Winstanley

Will the right hon. Gentleman state clearly whether or not a National Health Service doctor who refuses to issue a prescription for the pill on conscientious grounds would or would not be regarded as in breach of his terms of service? Further, would the right hon. Gentleman arrange for the patients of such doctors to be able to receive these prescriptions from other National Health Service doctors without having to transfer from their own doctor's list?

Mr. Robinson

No, Sir; I am sure that such doctor would not be in breach of his terms of service. But a doctor who does not wish to prescribe these contraceptives or appliances may himself refer the patient to another doctor or a clinic, and any patient who is dissatisfied with her doctor's general attitude towards family planning is free to transfer herself to another doctor.

Dr. Gray

Would not the right hon. Gentlman consider requesting doctors to provide the names and addresses of other doctors who are willing to give such advice if they themselves refuse it on grounds of conscience or bias, or is it not possible that they should automatically hand to the patient the address of the nearest family planning clinic?

Mr. Robinson

I am not sure that it would be appropriate for me to do this. I should have thought that any woman going to a doctor for this advice and failing to get it would know how she could get it from another doctor or a family planning clinic. I will consider what has been said, but I think that these things are best left to the profession itself.